Kootenay Library Federation 2012 Provincial Grants Report

The Kootenay Library Federation (KLF) and the member libraries actively contribute to high quality, seamless library service for the citizens of and visitors to the Kootenay Boundary region. In addition, the KLF enhances library service in other regions of BC by participating in joint activities with sister library federations, the BC Libraries Co-operative, the BC Library Association, the BC Library Trustees Association and Libraries & Literacy Branch. The KLF Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015 continues to guide our work. Our objectives for 2012 and associated activities reflect the plan and support our strategic, overarching goal of ‘collaborating to strengthen library service’.

Summary of 2012 Goals & Objectives

 Continued Commitment to Strategic Partners

 Professional Development

 Collaboration Makes It Possible

 Programming in Every Community

 Membership & Synergy

Continued Commitment to Strategic Partners

The BC Libraries Co-operative offers the BC library community the best opportunity for improving and delivering cost effective, cutting edge library service. The KLF and member libraries were early members and adopters of the services offered by the Co-operative and continue to be active participants. The KLF director serves on the Co-operative Board and members participate in the business function group activities. To strengthen the relationship between KLF libraries and the Co-operative, members of the Co-operative staff are regularly invited to KLF meetings.

During 2012, the Kimberley and Nelson Public Libraries joined Sitka, the common, shared integrated library system created by the Co-operative, bringing the total number of KLF libraries using Sitka to sixteen. The KLF supports migration to Sitka by providing an

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Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013 implementation grant to each library as they join the system. A majority of KLF libraries (16 of 19) now employ the Sitka system.

This extensive adoption of Sitka within the KLF means these libraries are ready to explore opportunities to implement direct patron request (DPR) in place of traditional inter-library loan procedures. DPR combined with the BC OneCard, represents an exciting opportunity to empower patrons to find and access the information they need. DPR would enable patrons to easily access shared collections in the region which has the potential to lead to a more efficient and regional view of library collections development. The KLF director has reviewed the current DPR procedures with Sitka staff, and plans for an introductory information session for library directors are being developed.

The KLF libraries rely on the BC Libraries Co-operative to negotiate and arrange purchase of online resources for our libraries. The Co-operative represents the entire province when negotiating volume purchases and prices for these resources. The small communities in the Kootenay Boundary region receive enormous benefit from this process.

Looking to the future, the KLF and member libraries are considering how to leverage our membership in the Co-operative to explore options for centralized purchasing of common library materials and supplies.

Collaboration Makes it Possible

Working together to extend the purchasing power of libraries remains a central objective for the KLF. This concept has been expanded so that the six federations within BC regularly work together (a Federations’ Collective) to leverage economies of scale for all our member libraries.

In 2012, the library federations combined staff time and administrative resources to deliver the Books for BC Babies project through public libraries in 39 centres across BC. The federations surveyed the library community for interest in materials for the project and managed associated ordering, delivery and finances. We were very fortunate to have the assistance of Jim Looney to get the process started and to have access to funds raised by the provincial Books for BC Babies Committee. We used these funds to make the books more affordable; without this large scale collaboration, the cost of delivering this early literacy program could be prohibitive.

Book Club Sets - The IslandLink, North East, North Coast and Kootenay Federations support and manage sets of newly published books for book clubs served by libraries within these

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Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013 federations. Recently published books are not usually available through inter-library loan as many libraries place restrictions on lending newly acquired materials. This program provides these resources in a shared and cost effective manner enabling smaller, remote libraries to deliver this service. In 2012 there were 716 books circulated. Title lists, synopses along with lending policies and procedures for the collection are now available through the KLF website.

Youth Card Initiative brings libraries together to explore the benefits of providing cards specifically designed for the under-18 library user. The purpose of this card is to enhance the value of library membership and promote library services to youth. Ideas for creating such a card were explored in 2012, with final product to be available in 2013.

The purchase of library materials and supplies is another area where co-ordination is beneficial. Seeking alternate sources and combining orders achieves discount pricing and lower shipping costs, resulting in 30% to 80% savings in the cost of selected items. In some cases, the Federations’ Collective has been able to arrange preferred vendor agreements for products; preferred vendor agreements reduce administrative overhead associated with creating combined orders. Some examples of materials purchased collectively include:

Province-wide co-ordination – item barcode labels, 3M compatible security strips, ILL mailbags, Survey Monkey subscription

KLF – packaging for AV materials, selected book and A/V titles

Professional Development

A longstanding and continuing goal for the KLF has been to increase the opportunities for locally delivered professional development for staff and volunteers. In 2012, the KLF arranged and supported delivery of five training sessions. Some sessions were delivered in partnership with other library support organizations such as BCLTA, BCLA and IslandLink Library Federation.

‘Trustees Orientation Program’ - eight trustees from the Kootenay Boundary attended a session delivered by Colleen Chambers in Creston, BC. KLF provided administrative support for the session. BCLTA generously provided the trainer and materials at no charge.

Summer Reading Club (SRC) co-ordinators training session was conducted by Helen Graham of the KLF and Lizanne Eastwood of the Grand Forks Public Library. There were 27 attendees representing 12 libraries at this workshop. The workshop is intended to give young people who work as co-ordinators in these popular programs a chance to learn some 3

Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013 basic skills in managing groups of children, first aid and communications strategies. They also have the opportunity to practice and share ideas for program development. Repeat attendance to this annual session indicates that library directors find the training valuable.

In collaboration with the BCLA Continuing Education Committee, ‘Teaching & Training in a Library Setting’ was given by Kay Cahill at the Nelson Library. There were nineteen attendees. This was an excellent workshop with good reviews from all who attended. Helen Graham (KLF) plans to implement techniques learned in this workshop at the 2013 KLF SRC co-ordinators training session.

Comments from Kay regarding the session:

“From my perspective, it was an excellent session – the group was extremely engaged and enthusiastic, the staff at Nelson PL couldn’t have been more helpful and welcoming… It makes so much difference to this session having attendees who are really engaged and into the discussions and exercises, and this was a fantastic group to work with in that regard. … thanks to all who were involved in making it happen!”

Dan Lepsoe brought ‘Pause – Marketing Libraries to Overloaded Minds’ to the KLF Board meeting in October providing a stimulating presentation to the librarians and trustees. One of the goals from the Strategic Plan is to enhance marketing for the KLF and its member libraries. In order to begin a conversation on strengthening library marketing and explore a regional communications campaign for libraries, it is useful for the members of the organization to have an understanding of how a marketer might approach this challenge.

‘The Library Connects Our Community’ showcased the exciting work done by the Nelson and Fernie libraries in a presentation given at the 2012 BCLA Conference to an audience of 95 people. The project was developed collaboratively by June Stockdale of Nelson, Emma Dressler of Fernie with financial and administrative support from the BCLA Continuing Education Committee, the IslandLink Library Federation and the KLF. Through this showcase, which demonstrated the active, creative outreach practiced in Fernie and Nelson, we hoped to inspire others to look into their communities for opportunities for libraries to have an enhanced influence and presence. We arranged for videography of the presentation; the KLF and IslandLink Federations’ websites provided links to the YouTube recording. The videography explored the feasibility of using this technique to extend the learning opportunities of live conferences. Based on YouTube stats, we know that there were 200 views of this recording.

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Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013 Programming in Every Community

By providing administrative and some financial support for programming, the KLF enables even the smallest libraries to participate by holding events to draw people to libraries thereby enriching the educational and cultural atmosphere in each community.

In 2012, ten authors visited our communities with ~2,200 people attending reading in the region. As in previous years authors are frequently shared with our local schools as appropriate. By reaching out and sharing resources with the schools, we encourage a positive perspective on libraries, reading and literacy skills development. Of particular note are the authors who were nominated for Red Cedar Awards; visits by these writers were supported in part by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Summer Reading Club entertainment enhances this stimulating program; in July, 2012 ‘Norden the Magician’ visited 12 KLF communities entertaining over 1,100 children and adults.

‘One Book One Kootenay’ continues as a region wide program celebrating libraries and the works of the writers living in the Kootenay Boundary region. There were 11 communities hosting OBOK events with 160 total attendees.

‘Reading Link Challenge’ is coordinated by public libraries in Greenwood and Midway. The KLF provides materials support for this literacy development program.

Membership & Synergy

The Kootenay Library Federation fosters synergy amongst the member libraries and a positive pride in this organization and all its members. This is likely the most significant outcome of federation’s work. The best measure of this positive attitude can be seen at KLF Board meetings, where the trustees enthusiastically share the news from each of their libraries. This sharing frequently includes accolades for library directors and staff members. As well, library directors work hard to support and acknowledge each other, building a strong sense of library community.

Thank you

The KLF staff, the directors and trustees of the member libraries thank the Libraries & Literacy Branch for its ongoing financial support and expert advice. As our principal funder, the Branch creates an opportunity that allows us to improve library services in our

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Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013 corner of the province. We greatly appreciate this funding, as well as your attention to our efforts and the perspective you bring to our plans and discussions.

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Joanne Richards, Director, KLF February, 2013